Portable Inflatable Hood With Self-Contained Ballast for Off-Gas Testing of Aeration and Emissions at Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Abstract

A portable inflatable hood with self-contained ballast for off-gas testing includes a primary structure configured to form a perimeter, a secondary structure surrounding the primary structure, a top element spanning the primary structure and configured to form an enclosure with the primary structure, a sheet configured to connect the primary structure to the secondary structure, a vent, and a flange configured to receive a tube. A method of deploying and using a portable inflatable hood for off-gas testing includes providing a portable inflatable hood, providing an air pump, inflating the portable inflatable hood with the air pump, connecting the portable inflatable hood to an analyzer with a hose or tube, positioning the portable inflatable hood in an area where off-gas is to be collected, securing the portable inflatable hood to a structure outside of the area where off-gas is to be collected, and collecting off-gas with the portable inflatable hood.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for off-gas testing, comprising:
 a primary structure;   a secondary structure attached to the primary structure; and   a top element spanning the primary structure;   wherein the primary structure and the top element form an enclosure, and   wherein the secondary structure forms a ballast.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the primary structure forms a perimeter of the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary structure surrounds the primary structure. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the primary structure comprises at least one inflatable tube. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary structure comprises at least one hollow tube. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one hollow tube is configured to receive a fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one hollow tube is further configured to receive a ballast material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a sheet attaching the at least one hollow tube to the primary structure. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one hollow tube, the sheet, and the primary structure define a space, and
 wherein the space is at least partially filled with a ballast material.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a sheet attaching a first hollow tube of the at least one hollow tube to a second hollow tube of the at least one hollow tube. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first hollow tube, the sheet, and the second hollow tube define a space, and
 wherein the space is at least partially filled with a ballast material.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one flange configured to receive a hose and form a fluid connection between the enclosure and the hose. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one additional flange comprising a fitting for connecting one or more sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one vent configured to release one or more fluid from the enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener,
 wherein the at least one fastener comprises one of a hook, a loop, an eyelet, or a handle.   
     
     
         16 . A system for off-gas testing, comprising:
 an inflatable hood comprised of:
 a primary structure and a top element forming an enclosure; and 
 a secondary structure forming a ballast; and 
   an analyzer connected to a flange of the inflatable hood; and   an air pump.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a hose fluidly connecting the analyzer to the flange and the enclosure,   wherein the inflatable hood further comprises a vent, a fastener, and at least one sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the system is provided in a case. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a device for off-gas testing, comprising:
 providing a portable inflatable hood, the portable inflatable hood comprising:
 at least one primary structure; 
 at least one secondary structure surrounding the at least one primary structure; 
 a top element spanning the at least one primary structure and configured to form an enclosure with the at least one primary structure; 
 a sheet connected to one of the at least one secondary structure; 
 at least one vent; and 
 at least one flange configured to receive a hose, 
   providing an air pump,   inflating the portable inflatable hood with the air pump,   connecting the portable inflatable hood to an analyzer with a hose,   positioning the portable inflatable hood in an area where off-gas is to be collected,   securing the portable inflatable hood to a structure outside of the area where off-gas is to be collected, and   collecting off-gas with the portable inflatable hood.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 detecting one or more properties of the collected off-gas with the analyzer, and   analyzing data comprised of the one or more properties detected by the analyzer.